Another OneShot of the short kind! I've been feeling super tired lately, and I feel like my fandoms are all over the place, to focusing on one thing to write has been more difficult than usual.

For the chapter...

I hate, HATE Effie's voice in the english version of the game. I loved the soft spoken, brutally strong Effie from the japanese version... So yeah, please imagine Effie with her japanese VA instead because I did so while writting this part.

Anyway.

Thank you very much for your reviews, and please, enjoy this chapter!

Fire emblem yadda yadda not mine.

Effie isn't sure what to think about Lady Elise's most recent...friendship.

She worries, it is her job after all, both as Lady Elise's friend and retainer. It came as second nature to keep her eyes peeled for her friend, taking care of every danger that could even think about getting closer to the little, blonde princess.

And right now, she wasn't sure if Prince Takumi was one of said dangers.

The fact that he was from Hoshido made her weary, the fact that he was a Hoshidan royal was enough to raise red flags over her head. Numerous scenarios ran through Effie's mind as she saw the young man getting closer to Lady Elise, and it took all of her willpower not to stomp her way over and take Lady Elise away from his hands.

She expected horrible things from the hoshidan; Cutting words, hard shoves, manipulation, even murder attempts against her dearest friend. She had seen Lord Xander and prince Ryoma seconds away from coming to blows, the Nohrian and Hoshidan siblings creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that gave the illusion of a fight that was about to happen at any given second.

Effie wanted Lady Elise away from all of that. She wanted her to stay innocent and happy and most important, safe.

That's why she often took her away from prince Takumi's sight. Because there was no safer place for the smallest princess than at her retainers's sides, where Arthur and her could ward off any danger, away from the youngest royal.

But to Effie's chagrin, Lady Elise was nothing but determined.

Very, very determined. And in this case, it all came around to the youngest Hoshidan prince.

Elise would seek him out, would spend her free time with him either dragging him around camp or just following him like a puppy. She went as far as to sneak out to hang out with the young man, and no amount of scolding could hold her back.

It was worrying, very much so.

Though a new kind of worry began to blossom in Effie's head once she had noticed that prince Takumi had begun to seek Lady Elise out.

There just had to be a line.

And she was damn well going to be the one to draw it.

"Prince Takumi? A word, if you please."

Takumi blinked some of his weariness away, turning around to come face to face with pink tinted armor. Confused, he took in the sight of one of Elise's retainers, he couldn't quite remember her name yet, but she was quite intimidating in the battlefield.

"...Effie, isn't it?" He asked, speaking again after the short nod he got in return. "Is something the matter?"

The woman stiffened just slightly, lips pursing into a small frown that for some reason send a shiver down Takumi's spine. "It's...a complicated matter."

"Complicated…? I'm sorry, but I don't understand." Takumi frowned. He really didn't understand what was going on, he hadn't even spoken more than four words to Effie before that day. "I don't think we've even talked about...anything, before."

Effie's sighed, looking just the slightest bit annoyed for the fraction of a second. "It's about Lady Elise."

"Elise?" Takumi asked, immediately on high alert. He had seen her just before going to march, and she had not taken part of it since she had to heal the wounded from the last battle they had. She was supposed to be fine. "What is it? Is she okay?"

"Lady Elise is alright, she's with Arthur right now."

Arthur, Takumi remembered, was Elise's other retainer. "Oh, okay, that's good." He nodded, noticing how Effie had taken one step closer to him. "Then what is it about her?"

"I'll be blunt." The woman spoke in her usual soft voice, but the steel in it almost made him flinch in surprise. "What are your intentions towards Lady Elise, Prince Takumi?"

"In...tentions…?" The prince repeated dumbly, caught off guard. "What?"

"As Lady Elise's retainer, I must look out for her in every aspect of life. I want, no, need to know what are your intentions towards my liege."

Effie's voice had lost all softness, instead, cutting steel coating it with a no-nonsense tone. For a second, Takumi got the impression that a general was speaking to him as a newbie soldier.

"Excuse me, what?" He asked again, mildly concerned and genuinely confused. "I don't think I follow."

Effie gave a long sigh, taking another step forwards. Takumi got the sudden urge to take one back, even if she had barely stepped away from the doorway.

"Prince Takumi, I've noticed that Lady Elise has taken a...liking...to your company. I know when a friendship with her blooms strongly. And in this case, it worries me."

Takumi nodded slowly, finally getting some more understanding on the situation at hand. "I...er, yes. We're...friends, I guess. Why would that worry you?"

"I'm her retainer, and her friend. It is my job to worry." The woman's voice grew soft again, only for a second. "That's why I ask you again. What are your intentions with my liege?"

Takumi could understand her, kind of. While his own retainers were more laidback when it came to his relations, they were still just a bit coddling at times. Elise's retainers definitely took the trophy for it, though.

"We're...just friends." He said, slowly. While he did understood Effie's position, he couldn't really understand her question. "I guess that's it?"

"...Just that?" Effie asked back, lips pursing in a frown and eyes squinting a bit, almost as if trying to pinpoint a lie. "...Are you sure?"

"...Yes?" He asked back, voice laced with genuine confusion. "Should there be anything else in between?"

He pushed a button, that much Takumi could tell. Effie stiffened just slightly, armor clanking against itself for a second before the woman scowled, looking at him as if he had just said a foul insult.

"No." She mutters, nodding her head once before turning around, about to exit the room. "And there shouldn't be, ever."

Takumi can't help but frown as soon as the knight slams the door shut.

The next day Elise comes bouncing to him, all bright smiles and breathy giggles as she drags him around, a game of chess tucked under her arm as she uses her free hand to hold his.

She doesn't notices anything out of the ordinary, but Takumi can feel the glare burning holes at the back of his head, along with the shine of pink armour and silver hair in the distance, watching their every moment with cautious attention.

He huffs, ignores it, and lets Elise hold his hand and entwin their fingers together like she did everyday. So what if Effie saw it? She couldn't tell him or Elise what to do.

They spent the time together, chatting, walking, sometimes sneaking a small snack or simply sitting by the shade of a tree. Takumi ignores Effie and her watchful glare the entire time, speaking freely with his usual gruff.

Whatever intentions he might or might have not towards Elise are none of her damn business, no matter how close she was to the princess.

If they wanted hang out as friends, they would hang out as friends! If they wanted to hold hands, then they would hold hand, damnit! Whenever the knight liked it or not wasn't of his concern.

Also no pls don't hate Effie she is one of my faves. I just like how protective she is of Elise (Along with Arthur, too.) almost like a mother to her only daughter... I HAD TO use her for this, mama bear Effie trying to scare suitors away from her baby...

aaaaaa...